Highland Park financial review team to meet with public

This afternoon, the public will have an opportunity to address the state panel looking into Highland Park's finances.

Governor Snyder appointed the review team earlier this month after a preliminary review found the city in "probable financial stress."

"The review team won't be making a report or sharing information with citizens because they are in the midst of their review at this point," said Terry Stanton, Michigan Department of Treasury spokesman. "But what this is for is for the taxpayers and citizens to have an opportunity to speak to members of the review team."

The review team will meet separately with elected officials, union officials and city department heads, according to Stanton.

The review team has until the end of January to report to the governor whether there is a financial emergency in Highland Park.

If the governor agrees that there is, the city has four choices: enter into a consent agreement with the state; ask for the appointment of an emergency manager; request a neutral evaluation process; or pursue Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

Highland Park has been down this road before. It had an emergency manager in place for eight years, ending in July 2009.

Michigan Radio previously reported on how Michigan's new emergency manager law, which went into effect this past March, compared to the old one.